Part of the driver’s story was confirmed by the Eastern Cape’s MEC for Health, Sindiswa Gimba, who revealed that he was en route to the mortuary to deliver a female corpse.

However, what makes no sense at all, is how the van was found overturned, a short distance away from where the alleged hijacking took place.

Clues found in the forensic pathology van

Even more strange was the fact that the driver had not sustained any injuries in this ‘violent’ attack. Moreover, preliminary investigations into the incident have already yielded clues that poke holes into the driver’s story.

“The body was found, the vehicle is damaged and there is a suspicion … I think he [the driver] was pulling a stunt when he got into an accident,” she said.

There is a suspicion that the driver was allegedly intoxicated on his trip from the funeral parlour to the mortuary. It is also believed that he may have been with a passenger before the incident.

According to police spokesperson, Dineo Koena, so far, investigators have uncovered two cellphones and a wallet from the scene of the incident.

“The department together with the police are investigating the matter. The vehicle is in the hands of the police and they are now investigating the full circumstances.

“One of the things that they are going to investigate is whether there was anyone else in the car with him,” Gumba confirmed.

Gumba could not confirm the current condition of the female corpse, only that the cause of her death was smoke inhalation.